Calibrachoa plant named ‘DCALILYLOW’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Calibrachoa cultivar named ‘DCALILYLOW’ is disclosed, characterized by a semi-trailing plant habit. Plants produce an abundance of large dark yellow colored flowers. Plants begin flowering early, have strong branches and are day length neutral. The new variety is a Calibrachoa, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Calibrachoa hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘DCALILYLOW’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Calibrachoa varieties. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during January of 2014.

The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Calibrachoa ‘cv. 14-4050’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Calibrachoa ‘cv. 14-3900’. The new variety was discovered in March of 2015 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the parental crossing, in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DCALILYLOW’ was first performed by terminal vegetative cuttings during March of 2015, at a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Subsequent propagation by has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. First public access to plants of the variety occurred Nov. 12, 2017 in the United States. This offer came directly or indirectly from the inventor, qualifying for the exception allowed under 102(b). Previous to this sale, although the variety may have been publicized in print, plants were not available to the public for propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DCALILYLOW’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DCALILYLOW’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DCALILYLOW’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa cultivar:

-   1. Large dark yellow flowers. -   2. Early flowering. -   3. Flowering can begin under 10-hour day length, day-length neutral     for this market class. -   4. Semi-trailing plant habit. -   5. Medium vigor.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCALILYLOW’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DCALILYLOW’ differ in the following;

-   1. The new variety has large, dark yellow flowers; the seed parent     has white with a pink eye flower color. -   2. The new variety has a semi-trailing growth habit; seed parent has     a compact habit. -   3. The new variety's flowers are larger than those of the seed     parent. -   4. New variety has a medium vigor; seed parent has a low vigor.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCALILYLOW’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DCALILYLOW’ differ in the following;

-   1. The new variety has dark yellow flowers; pollen parent has light     yellow flowers. -   2. New variety has a stronger habit than pollen parent. -   3. New variety flowers more abundantly than pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCALILYLOW’ can be compared to the patented commercial variety Calibrachoa ‘DANOA37’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,958. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DCALILYLOW’ differs in the following:

-   1. ‘DCALILYLOW’ is Earlier to flower in comparison to ‘DANOA37’. -   2. ‘DCALILYLOW’ is day length neutral, ‘DANOA37’ is not. -   3. ‘DCALILYLOW’ has a bigger flower than ‘DANOA37’. -   4. ‘DCALILYLOW’ has wider foliage, ‘DANOA37’ has thinner foliage.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCALILYLOW’ can also be compared to the unpatented commercial variety ‘Sakal107’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,382. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DCALILYLOW’ differs in the following:

-   1. ‘DCALILYLOW’ is more vigorous than ‘Sakal107’. -   2. ‘DCALILYLOW’ has a larger flower than ‘Sakal107’. -   3. ‘DCALILYLOW’ has a semi-trailing habit, ‘Sakal107’ is mounded. -   4. ‘DCALILYLOW’ has a better garden performance than ‘Sakal107’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant in a 20 cm pot, at approximately 5 months of age, of ‘DCALILYLOW’ grown in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical flowering plants of ‘DCALBUBGM’ grown in 12 cm pots in early Spring, during days having 10 hours of light.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DCALILYLOW’ plants grown in greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurements were taken during Summer of 2018. The plants were approximately 60 days from a rooted cutting in a 12 cm pot. The growing temperature ranged from 15° C. to 28° C. during the days, 15° C. to 20° C. during the nights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa hybrid ‘DCALILYLOW’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 10 to 15 days at approximately 18° C. -   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Semi-trailing. -   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm. -   Height: To top of flowers: 12 cm. -   Plant spread: 44 cm. -   Growth rate: Fast, moderately vigorous. -   Length of primary lateral branches: 20 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.2 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 10. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Cylindrical — laterally compressed.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 146B.         -   Texture.—Hispid.         -   Strength.—Good, flexible. -   Internode length: 1-1.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 60 per branch.         -   Average length.—3.5 cm.         -   Average width.—1.2 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Acuminate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Scabrous.         -   Aspect.—90 degrees.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146A.             Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Mature             foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage             under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS             Yellow-Green 147B. Venation color under side: RHS             Yellow-Green 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.1-0.2 cm. Color: RHS             Yellow-Green 147C. Texture: Glabrous.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: All seasons, year round in Beit Dagan,     Israel. -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 30 days. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Axillary, single flower,     salverform shape, upward and outwardly facing. -   Rate of flower opening: 2 to 3 days from bud to fully opened flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: 4 to 7 days. -   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: About 100. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.         -   Length.—1 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow-green 147B. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—4 cm.         -   Length.—4-4.5 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter at distal end.—1 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter at proximal end.—0.4 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Length from throat.—1.5-2 cm.         -   Size of marking of transition to flower throat upper             surface.—Absent.         -   Width.—1.6 to 1.8 cm.         -   Quantity.—5.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Apex.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Lobing.—Strong.         -   Vein conspicuousness.—Weak. -   Color:     -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: RHS Yellow 12A. Lower surface:             RHS Yellow 13D.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: RHS Yellow 12B. Lower surface:             RHS Yellow 13D. Flower throat (inside): RHS Yellow 12A.             Flower throat, vein: RHS Green 144C. Flower tube (outside):             RHS Yellow 13D. Flower tube, vein: RHS Green 144D. Petal             color, fading to: RHS Yellow 12B. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Width.—0.5 cm.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface: Glabrous.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Lower Surface:             RHS Yellow-Green 147B. -   Peduncle: None present. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—2.5 to 3 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144A.         -   Orientation.—45 degrees. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Filament length.—0.5/0.7 cm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Length.—0.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Globose.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow 12B.         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS Yellow 12C. Quantity: Scant. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—1.3 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 0.5 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 148C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Oblate. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 148B. Ovary             Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: About 15 dark brown, rounded seeds of about 0.5 mm     diameter, per one brown, conical capsule. -   Disease/pest resistance: Typical to known Calibrachoa varieties.     Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the normal diseases and     pests of Calibrachoa have been observed. Pests common to Calibrachoa     include Aphids and thrips. Typical diseases are Botrytis and     Pythium. -   Temperature tolerance: 5° C. to 30° C. -   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘DCALILYLOW’ as herein illustrated and described. 